Montador makes a deal with Blackhawks

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Much-travelled defenceman Steve Montador reportedly has signed a four-year deal worth $11 million with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Blackhawks had sent a seventh-round draft pick late Wednesday night to the Buffalo Sabres to acquire the pending unrestricted free agent.

The cap hit would be $2.75 million if the signing becomes official, Sportsnet.ca reported.

Montador, 31, had five goals and 21 assists last season and led the Sabres with a plus-16 rating.

He also has played with the Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, Anaheim Ducks and Boston Bruins.

It is expected Montador will fill a vacancy on the Chicago defence created by the trade of Brian Campbell to Florida last week.

"(Montador) certainly brings a lot of different attributes to the table that we like," Chicago general manager Stan Bowman said Thursday before reports of the signing. "I think he'd be a great fit on the blue line."

'CANES: JOKINEN AROUND

The Carolina Hurricanes agreed to terms with forward Jussi Jokinen on a three-year contract Thursday worth $3 million a season.

Jokinen, 28, had 19 goals and 33 assists last season.

"Jussi is a player who fit in with our team from Day 1 in all situations and has been a valuable offensive contributor," Carolina GM Jim Rutherford said. "He feels that he has found a home in Carolina."

Jokinen was a sixth-round draft pick of the Dallas Stars in 2001.

In other signings announced Thursday:

The Edmonton Oilers re-signed defenceman Ladislav Smid to a two-year contract worth $2.25 million a season. Smid, 25, had no goals and 10 assists in 78 games last season, his fifth in Edmonton.

The Tampa Bay Lightning confirmed the re-signing of goaltender Dwayne Roloson, 41, to a one-year contract believed to be worth $3 million. "We had a great run last season," Roloson said. "I'm looking forward to trying to do it again in 2011-12."

The St. Louis Blues signed centre T.J. Oshie to a one-year, $2.35-million contract. Oshie, 24, would have become a restricted free agent Friday at noon. Oshie had 12 goals and 22 assists in 49 games in 2010-11 -- a season shortened by a broken left ankle.

WISNIEWSKI TRYING ON JACKETS

Defenceman James Wisniewski and his agent spent three hours meeting with the Columbus Blue Jackets officials Thursday and received a contract offer, the Post-Dispatch reported.

"It was good to get down there and meet the management and see the city," Wisniewski said. "But right now, I'm going to keep my mouth shut and let the process play itself out and see what happens."

The Jackets, who acquired the defenceman's rights Wednesday from Montreal in exchange for a seventh-round pick, have until noon Friday to sign Wisniewski when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

SUBBAN TO HAITI

Montreal Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban, and former NHLer Georges Laraque will fly Monday to Port-au-Prince, Haiti as part of a relief effort.

They will visit a children's hospital damaged by the earthquake last year. Repairs to the hospital are funded in part by Hockey for Haiti, an initiative launched by Laraque, the NHLPA and World Vision.

Hockey for Haiti has raised $1.3 million for the Grace Children's Hospital.

BRIEFLY

The New York Rangers and forward John Mitchell, 26, have agreed to a contract extension. Mitchell was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs Feb. 28 and had seven goals and five assists in 14 games with the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Connecticut ... Apparently Peter Forsberg is retired for good: The Colorado Avalance has announced that the veteran centre's No. 21 will be retired. Forsberg, who came out of retirement several times, spent parts of 10 seasons with Colorado, plus one season with the Quebec Nordiques, who became the Avs in 1995 ... The Avs also announced that defencemen Ryan O'Byrne (two years) and Matt Hunwick (one year) had re-signed ... The NHL Players' Association has filed a grievance against the Nashville Predators, claiming the club did not send qualifying offers to seven of its pending restricted free agents by the deadline of Monday at 5 p.m. ET.